Cornish surnames
Encyclopedia
Cornish surnames are surnames used by Cornish people
and often derived from the Cornish language
. Such surnames for the common people emerged in the Middle Ages
, although the nobility probably had surnames much earlier on. Not until the later Middle Ages
did it become necessary for a common man to have a surname. Most surnames were fully established throughout Cornwall
by the end of the 15th century. Today Cornish surnames can be found throughout the world as part of the Cornish diaspora.
Due to the linguistic similarity of Cornish, Welsh and Breton, some surnames can derive from any of the three regions.
Many Cornish
surnames and place names still retain these words as prefixes, such as the names Trelawny or Trevithick
and the towns of Polperro
, Polkerris
and of course Penzance
. "Carbines" from "carn" "byghan" meaning "little rock pile". Caution should be exercised with the derivation of "Car-" surnames as there seems also to be fusion with names containing the prefix "ker", a fortification as in "Carvosso" "(ker)car" "fosow" meaning "fort with walls or ditches" a placename found in Ludgvan
. There is also "carrek" meaning a "rocky mass".
"Rosdew" from Cornish "ros" "du" meaning "black heath" or "dark heath" and "Ros(e)warne" from Cornish "ros" "(g)wern" "heath with alders" or perhaps "heath by a marsh". "Landry" from "lan" "dre" meaning "enclosure of farmhouse or church-house".
.
Other examples of Cornish language placenames used as surnames:
Other examples of names derived from trades include "Dyer" (Cpr. tyor=thatcher) and "Helyer" (Cor. helghyer=hunter), both of which can be found in English too, i.e. "Thatcher" and "Hunter" respectively http://www.cornishsurnames.com/HowSurnamesEvolvedFS.htm.
Other examples:
"Pascoe" from "Easter".
s . e.g. "Coad" (Cor.coth=old), "Couch" (Cor.cough=red) and "Tallack" (Cor.talek=wide-browed).http://www.cornishsurnames.com/HowSurnamesEvolvedFS.htm
Other examples:
variants "Cornysshe", "Cornyshe", "Cornysh", "Cornishe", "Cornisshe" and "Cornis"- standardised as "Cornish"- is to be found throughout Great Britain
and Ireland
. The name seems to originate from a time when ordinary people were still not using surnames in the modern way. A native Cornishman who had left Cornwall for another part of Britain
or Ireland
was given the name "Cornish", i.e. the Cornishman. In "A Dictionary of British Surnames", P.H. Reaney (1976), the following entries and dates are to be found:
The first recorded instance is in the National Dictionary in 1547. It is likely that the Adam Corneys recorded in 1300 is identical to Adam Le Cornwalais recorded in 1275. Other related names to Cornish that designate a Cornish origin include "Cornwall", "Cornwell", "Curnow", "Cornu", "Kernew", "Kernow" etc. In previous centuries these names may have alternated along with "Cornwallis" and "Le Cornwalais".
Surnames found at high frequencies in both Wales and Cornwall include:
to English
, approximately until the mid-18th century, some Cornish language surnames underwent change through folk etymology. The Cornish meaning of the name was no longer understood and so it was changed into a similar sounding English word, not necessarily anything to do with the original meaning in Cornish. The same process has been noted in Cornish placenames too. One example of this process regarding surnames is the surname "Kneebone" which actually derives from the Cornish "Carn Ebwen" or the "tomb", "carn" of "Ebwen". The change must have occurred at a point when the original "k" at the beginning of the English word was still pronounced and thus suggests an early period in which it was anglicised.
themselves employed Bretons in the administration of Cornwall and thus "imported" Breton names in Cornwall are not unusual.
Cornish people
The Cornish are a people associated with Cornwall, a county and Duchy in the south-west of the United Kingdom that is seen in some respects as distinct from England, having more in common with the other Celtic parts of the United Kingdom such as Wales, as well as with other Celtic nations in Europe...
and often derived from the Cornish language
Cornish language
Cornish is a Brythonic Celtic language and a recognised minority language of the United Kingdom. Along with Welsh and Breton, it is directly descended from the ancient British language spoken throughout much of Britain before the English language came to dominate...
. Such surnames for the common people emerged in the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
, although the nobility probably had surnames much earlier on. Not until the later Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
did it become necessary for a common man to have a surname. Most surnames were fully established throughout Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
by the end of the 15th century. Today Cornish surnames can be found throughout the world as part of the Cornish diaspora.
Due to the linguistic similarity of Cornish, Welsh and Breton, some surnames can derive from any of the three regions.
Patronymics
The most common surnames in Cornwall are patronymics. The father’s first name being taken without alteration and a genitive ‘s’ added. e.g. John (of) Typically Cornish was the addition of an "o" for example in the surname Bennetto or a "y" as in the surname "Pawley".http://www.cornishsurnames.com/HowSurnamesEvolvedFS.htmPlacenames
The phrase Tre, Pol and Pen is used to describe people from, or places in, Cornwall, UK. Carew has By Tre, Pol and Pen You shall know the Cornishmen, however, Camden records the rhyme as By Tre, Ros, Pol, Lan, Caer and Pen You may know the most Cornishmen.- Tre- in the Cornish languageCornish languageCornish is a Brythonic Celtic language and a recognised minority language of the United Kingdom. Along with Welsh and Breton, it is directly descended from the ancient British language spoken throughout much of Britain before the English language came to dominate...
means a settlement or homestead - Ros(e)- heathland
- Pol- a pond, lake or well
- Lan- a religious enclosure
- Car- either from carn, i.e. ancient tomb or rock pile, or from ker, a fortification
- Pen- a hill or headland
Many Cornish
Cornish people
The Cornish are a people associated with Cornwall, a county and Duchy in the south-west of the United Kingdom that is seen in some respects as distinct from England, having more in common with the other Celtic parts of the United Kingdom such as Wales, as well as with other Celtic nations in Europe...
surnames and place names still retain these words as prefixes, such as the names Trelawny or Trevithick
Trevithick
Trevithick is a surname, and may refer to:* Francis Trevithick , one of the first locomotive engineers of the London and North Western Railway* Paul Trevithick , American inventor, engineer and entrepreneur...
and the towns of Polperro
Polperro
Polperro is a village and fishing harbour on the south-east Cornwall coast in South West England, UK, within the civil parish of Lansallos. Situated on the River Pol, 4 miles west of the neighbouring town of Looe and west of the major city and naval port of Plymouth, it is well-known for...
, Polkerris
Polkerris
Polkerris is a small village on the south coast of Cornwall, United Kingdom. It forms part of the civil parish of Fowey.The village was formerly part of the Rashleigh estate which is commemorated in the name of the pub, 'Rashleigh Inn'...
and of course Penzance
Penzance
Penzance is a town, civil parish, and port in Cornwall, England, in the United Kingdom. It is the most westerly major town in Cornwall and is approximately 75 miles west of Plymouth and 300 miles west-southwest of London...
. "Carbines" from "carn" "byghan" meaning "little rock pile". Caution should be exercised with the derivation of "Car-" surnames as there seems also to be fusion with names containing the prefix "ker", a fortification as in "Carvosso" "(ker)car" "fosow" meaning "fort with walls or ditches" a placename found in Ludgvan
Ludgvan
Ludgvan is a civil parish and village in Cornwall, England, UK. The village is situated 2½ miles northeast of Penzance.The parish includes the villages of Ludgvan, Crowlas, Canon's Town and Long Rock...
. There is also "carrek" meaning a "rocky mass".
"Rosdew" from Cornish "ros" "du" meaning "black heath" or "dark heath" and "Ros(e)warne" from Cornish "ros" "(g)wern" "heath with alders" or perhaps "heath by a marsh". "Landry" from "lan" "dre" meaning "enclosure of farmhouse or church-house".
.
Other examples of Cornish language placenames used as surnames:
- Gwavas- from Cornish "gwaf" meaning "winter abode or pasture"- an area near PenzancePenzancePenzance is a town, civil parish, and port in Cornwall, England, in the United Kingdom. It is the most westerly major town in Cornwall and is approximately 75 miles west of Plymouth and 300 miles west-southwest of London...
and also the surname of a well-known Cornish family (William Gwavas) - Hammett- from Old Cornish http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Old_Cornish "havot" [Welsh "hafodHafodHafod is a district of the city of Swansea, Wales and lies just outside the city centre in the north of the city. It falls within the Landore ward....
"], a compound of "haf" (summer) and "bod" (dwelling). In East Cornwall, -m- was the Anglo-Saxon representation of the Cornish nasal -v-. [See Padel, Cornish Place-Name Elements (1985)]. Place-names: Hammett, Hammett Down in the parish of QuethiockQuethiockQuethiock is a village and civil parish in Cornwall, United Kingdom, roughly five miles east of Liskeard. According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 429. The ancient parish church of St Hugh is one of the most notable in Cornwall. The placename derives from the Old Cornish cuidoc...
; Great Hammett, Little Hammett in the parish of St Neot, Cornwall. - Tremethyk- tre-methag, doctor's farm
- Trenowden- tre-Renowden, Renowden's farm, Renowden is the Cornish form of Renaud or Reginald
- Penprase- from Cornish "pen", "head" and "pras", "meadow"- meaning the "head of the meadow" or perhaps "chief/head meadow"
- Nan(s)- surnames- there are many Nan(s)- surnames in Cornwall, "nan(s)" meaning valley- for example Nankervis from "nans" and "kervys", meaning "valley of the deer/stag" and Nankivell/Nancekivell "nans" "Cyfel", "the valley of Cyfel" (Cyfel being a personal name) or perhaps from the Old Welsh/Cornish word "ceffyl" a "horse" . Nanskeval is located on the parish boundaries of St Mawgan in Pydar and St Columb MajorSt Columb MajorSt Columb Major is a civil parish and town in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. Often referred to locally as St Columb, it is situated approximately seven miles southwest of Wadebridge and six miles east of Newquay...
.
Trades
As in many other parts of Europe, names were used to describe the occupation of the head of the family. "Angove", for example, being the equivalent to English "Smith", German "Schmidt" and Italian "Ferrero"- (Cor. gof=smith).Other examples of names derived from trades include "Dyer" (Cpr. tyor=thatcher) and "Helyer" (Cor. helghyer=hunter), both of which can be found in English too, i.e. "Thatcher" and "Hunter" respectively http://www.cornishsurnames.com/HowSurnamesEvolvedFS.htm.
Other examples:
- Marrak from Cornish "marghak" meaning "knight" or "rider"
- Gloyn(e) from Cornish "glow" "(pr)en" meaning "charcoal", perhaps from the ancient profession of a charcoal burner
Animals
Some surnames were derived from animals which may indicate that the bearer of some of these surnames may have made a living from hunting, examples include "Bligh" (Cor.blyth= wolf) or "Coon" (Cor.cun=hunting dog).- Gwinnel- possibly from Cornish "gwennol" meaning "swallow"
Festivals
At least one known Cornish surname derives from the name of a festival, namely"Pascoe" from "Easter".
Personal characteristics or nicknames
Another category of surnames is derived from personal characteristics or nicknames/hypocoristicHypocoristic
A hypocorism is a shorter form of a word or given name, for example, when used in more intimate situations as a nickname or term of endearment.- Derivation :Hypocorisms are often generated as:...
s . e.g. "Coad" (Cor.coth=old), "Couch" (Cor.cough=red) and "Tallack" (Cor.talek=wide-browed).http://www.cornishsurnames.com/HowSurnamesEvolvedFS.htm
Other examples:
- Teague te(k)g- from Cornish "fair" or "beautiful"
- Gwyn(n)- from Cornish "gwy(d)n" "white"
The surname Cornish
The surname "Cornish" withvariants "Cornysshe", "Cornyshe", "Cornysh", "Cornishe", "Cornisshe" and "Cornis"- standardised as "Cornish"- is to be found throughout Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
and Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. The name seems to originate from a time when ordinary people were still not using surnames in the modern way. A native Cornishman who had left Cornwall for another part of Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
or Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
was given the name "Cornish", i.e. the Cornishman. In "A Dictionary of British Surnames", P.H. Reaney (1976), the following entries and dates are to be found:
- Cornish, Cornes, Badekoc Korneys (1296)
- John Corneys (1327)
- Henry Cornysh (1375)
The first recorded instance is in the National Dictionary in 1547. It is likely that the Adam Corneys recorded in 1300 is identical to Adam Le Cornwalais recorded in 1275. Other related names to Cornish that designate a Cornish origin include "Cornwall", "Cornwell", "Curnow", "Cornu", "Kernew", "Kernow" etc. In previous centuries these names may have alternated along with "Cornwallis" and "Le Cornwalais".
"Welsh" names
Especially in West Cornwall, many names typically associated with Welsh are also found. In the Cornish language, ultimately a language linked to Welsh and Breton, the prefix ‘map’ may have been used, as in Welsh, to indicate the relationship of father to son, this later becoming "ap" (as in NW Breton area, Leon dialect, Breton WP) and then finally the "p" alone being prefixed to the name, e.g. (m)ap Richard becoming "Pri(t)chard". Another feature of these patronymics was the diminutive suffix "-kin" being added the father’s first name e.g. "Tonkin", which may derive from either Anthony or Thomas. It is a common misconception that a Welsh sounding name in Conrwall is less "Cornish" than a more stereotypical name beginning with tre-, pol- or pen.- Prowse/Prouse from "ma(b)p" "ros" meaning "son of the heath"
- Prynne "ma(b)p" "Ryn", "son of Rynne"
Surnames found at high frequencies in both Wales and Cornwall include:
- DaviesDaviesDavies is a spelling variation of the patronymic English surname Davis, that means David, a Hebrew name meaning "beloved". Davies is much associated with Wales, owing to the name of its patron saint, David....
- WilliamsWilliams-People:* Williams , a surname English in origin, but popular in Wales, 3rd most common in the United Kingdom* "Williams", the pseudonym of racing driver and SOE agent William Grover-Williams-United States:Communities*Williams, Arizona...
- EvansEvansEvans may refer to:people*Evans *for a particular person with the surname, see the List of people with surname Evans.place*Evans, California in the United States*Evans, Colorado in the United States*Evans, Georgia in the United States...
- JonesJonesJones may refer to:* Jones , a common Anglo-Welsh surname* Jones , English cricketer in the 1740s* Jones calculus, a description of polarization in optics...
- MorganMorgan-Places:Australia*Morgan, South AustraliaCanada*Morgan, OntarioUnited States*Morgan, California*Morgan, Georgia*Morgan, Minnesota*Morgan, Texas*Morgan, Utah*Morgan, Vermont*Morgan, Wisconsin, a town...
Anglicised names and folk etymology
Owing to the gradual language shift in Cornwall from the native Cornish languageCornish language
Cornish is a Brythonic Celtic language and a recognised minority language of the United Kingdom. Along with Welsh and Breton, it is directly descended from the ancient British language spoken throughout much of Britain before the English language came to dominate...
to English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, approximately until the mid-18th century, some Cornish language surnames underwent change through folk etymology. The Cornish meaning of the name was no longer understood and so it was changed into a similar sounding English word, not necessarily anything to do with the original meaning in Cornish. The same process has been noted in Cornish placenames too. One example of this process regarding surnames is the surname "Kneebone" which actually derives from the Cornish "Carn Ebwen" or the "tomb", "carn" of "Ebwen". The change must have occurred at a point when the original "k" at the beginning of the English word was still pronounced and thus suggests an early period in which it was anglicised.
Non-Cornish language surnames typically associated with Cornwall
There are also many names typically found in Conrwall that may have a completely non-Cornish language origin, excluding those names taken from English, yet a strong association with the area. These names reflect the historical connections between Cornwall and Brittany and also the Norman occupation of Cornwall. The NormansNormans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
themselves employed Bretons in the administration of Cornwall and thus "imported" Breton names in Cornwall are not unusual.
- Vingoe- possibly of Norman origin from FrenchFrench languageFrench is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
"vin-gout" "wine taster" - ArundellArundellThe Arundell family were a very old Norman family settled in Cornwall and dating back to about the middle of the thirteenth century.*Baron Arundell of Trerice*Baron Arundell of Wardour*Arundell family of Lanherne,...
- the name of an aristocratic familyBaron Arundell of TrericeBaron Arundell of Trerice, in the County of Cornwall, was a title in the Peerage of England. It was created in 1664 for the Royalist soldier and politician Richard Arundell. He was the second son of Sir John Arundell and the great-grandson of Admiral Sir John Arundell. He was succeeded by his son,...
in Cornwall. - Arscott possibly from BretonBreton languageBreton is a Celtic language spoken in Brittany , France. Breton is a Brythonic language, descended from the Celtic British language brought from Great Britain to Armorica by migrating Britons during the Early Middle Ages. Like the other Brythonic languages, Welsh and Cornish, it is classified as...
"harscoet" meaning "iron shield" - Briton, Brittan etc. - from "Breton", a name given to a BretonBreton peopleThe Bretons are an ethnic group located in the region of Brittany in France. They trace much of their heritage to groups of Brythonic speakers who emigrated from southwestern Great Britain in waves from the 3rd to 6th century into the Armorican peninsula, subsequently named Brittany after them.The...
resident in Cornwall - Ferris - Of Scots origin, commonly found in the RestormelRestormelRestormel was a borough of Cornwall, United Kingdom, one of the six administrative divisions that made up the county. Its council was based in St Austell . Other towns included Newquay....
and CarrickCarrick, CornwallCarrick was a local government district in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. Its council was based in Truro. The main centres of population, industry and commerce were the city of Truro and the towns of Falmouth/Penryn....
areas.
Famous persons with Cornish surnames
Not all people who consider themselves Cornish have a necessarily Cornish surname nor do all Cornish surname bearers necessarily identify themselves as Cornish in nationality.- Dashiell HammettDashiell HammettSamuel Dashiell Hammett was an American author of hard-boiled detective novels and short stories, and political activist. Among the enduring characters he created are Sam Spade , Nick and Nora Charles , and the Continental Op .In addition to the significant influence his novels and stories had on...
- Cam NancarrowCam NancarrowCam Nancarrow is a former squash player from Australia, who was one of the game's leading players in the 1960s and 1970s. He won the World Amateur Individual Championship in 1967, having finished runner-up in that competition in 1967 and 1971...
- Jack NanceJack NanceMarvin John Nance , known professionally as Jack Nance and occasionally credited as John Nance, was an American actor of stage and screen, primarily starring in offbeat or avant-garde productions...
- Richard NanckivellRichard NanckivellRichard Nancekivell was a Cornish rugby union player who competed in the Cornwall County team. He is remembered as the man who scored the winning tries in the 1991 County Rugby championships at Twickenham when Cornwall narrowly beat Yorkshire....
- Beverly PenberthyBeverly PenberthyBeverly Penberthy is an American actress, best known for her role as Pat Matthews Randolph on Another World, which she played from 1967 to 1982.She also had a small role in the film Judas Kiss.-External links:...
- Edward William Wynne PendarvesEdward William Wynne PendarvesEdward William Wynne Pendarves was Member of Parliament for West Cornwall from the creation of the Constituency on 19 December 1832 until the year of his death....
- David PenhaligonDavid PenhaligonDavid Charles Penhaligon was a British politician from Cornwall who was a Liberal Member of Parliament from October 1974 until his death...
- Rick RescorlaRick RescorlaCyril Richard "Rick" Rescorla was a retired United States Army officer of British birth who served with distinction in Northern Rhodesia as a member of the Northern Rhodesia Police and as a soldier in the Vietnam War as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army...
- Mike TeagueMike TeagueMichael Clive Teague is a former England and British Lions rugby union footballer.-Early life:Teague was born and raised on a pig farm a few miles outside Gloucester...
- Sir Jonathan Trelawny, 3rd Baronet
- Marcus TrescothickMarcus TrescothickMarcus Edward Trescothick MBE is an English cricketer. He plays first-class cricket for Somerset County Cricket Club, and represented England in 76 Test matches and 123 One Day Internationals. A left-handed opening batsman, he made his first-class debut for Somerset in 1993 and quickly established...
- Sir Charles Trevelyan, 1st BaronetSir Charles Trevelyan, 1st BaronetSir Charles Edward Trevelyan, 1st Baronet, KCB was a British civil servant and colonial administrator. As a young man, he worked with the colonial government in Calcutta, India; in the late 1850s and 1860s he served there in senior-level appointments...
- Richard TrevithickRichard TrevithickRichard Trevithick was a British inventor and mining engineer from Cornwall. His most significant success was the high pressure steam engine and he also built the first full-scale working railway steam locomotive...
- John Courtenay TrewinJohn Courtenay TrewinJohn Courtenay Trewin OBE was a British journalist, writer and drama critic. Since 2000, an award has been given by the Critics' Circle for the best Shakespearean performance of the Year: "The John And Wendy Trewin Award For Best Shakespearian Performance".Trewin was born in Plymouth, although...
See also
- SurnameSurnameA surname is a name added to a given name and is part of a personal name. In many cases, a surname is a family name. Many dictionaries define "surname" as a synonym of "family name"...
- Patronymics
- HypocoristicHypocoristicA hypocorism is a shorter form of a word or given name, for example, when used in more intimate situations as a nickname or term of endearment.- Derivation :Hypocorisms are often generated as:...
- NicknameNicknameA nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
- Welsh surnamesWelsh surnamesFixed family names were adopted in Wales from the 15th century onwards. Hitherto, the Welsh had a patronymic naming system.-History:In 1292, 48 per cent of Welsh names were patronymics, and in some parishes over 70 per cent. Other names were derived from nicknames, occupational names, and a few...
- English surnames
- NormansNormansThe Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
- Nankivell (surname)Nankivell (surname)Nankivell is a surname originating from Cornwall, it may refer to:* Edward J. Nankivell* Joice NanKivell Loch, an Australian author, journalist and humanitarian worker who worked with refugees in Poland, Greece and Romania after World War I and World War II....
Specialist Bibliography
- Gover, J.E.B., The Place Names of Cornwall (1948)
- Jackson, Kenneth, Language and History In Early Britain, Cambridge: Harvard University Press (1953)
- Padel, O.J., Cornish Place-Name Elements, Nottingham: English Place-name Society (1985)
- Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, (II Ed. 1976), Routledge.
- White, George Pawley, A Handbook of Cornish Surnames, Camborne: Chy'nelyn, Tregenna La. (1972)
External links
- http://www.cornwallfhs.com/
- http://www.uk-genealogy.org.uk/england/Cornwall/visitations/index.html
- http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~kernow/
- http://www.cornish-surnames.org.uk/
- http://members.ozemail.com.au/~kevrenor/csnames.htm
- http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~kernow/
- The meaning behind Welsh names
- General History of surnames, including Welsh
- Collection of Welsh Surnames (along with Male and Female first names)
- Welsh patronymic naming system
- Late Sixteenth Century Welsh Names
- What's in a name?
- Article on the relevance of surnames in genealogy (PDFPortable Document FormatPortable Document Format is an open standard for document exchange. This file format, created by Adobe Systems in 1993, is used for representing documents in a manner independent of application software, hardware, and operating systems....
File) - Welsh-Border Surnames from 'ab Edmond'